JL.B. 1191. THE BISHOP OF ELY IS BISGEACED.
manifestly a counsellor and adviser to the entire subversion of the realm of England, a disturber of the peace, and a public advocate against the royal dignity and interests ; and to cause him to be strictly avoided by all, that in future a sheep so diseased may not be able to blemish and corrupt the flock of the Lord. But Hugh Bardolph, who took no part in our expulsion and confinement, we do except from the said sentence of excommunication, if, immediately upon being warned, he shall surrender the castles of Scarborough, and those throughout the whole of Yorkshire and Westmoreland which he holds in his hands, to William de Stuteville. You are also to forbid all persons in your diocese, under pain of excommunication, to do anything in obedience to those who conduct themselves in England as though they were justices, or in any way to obey a power founded on violence and usurpation. Farewell."
The said bishop of Ely also wrote to Hugh, bishop of Lincoln, to the following effect :
" William, by the grace of God, bishop of Ely, legate of the Holy Apostolic See, and chanceflor of our lord the king, to his venerable brother and friend, by the same grace, bishop of Lincoln, greeting. By that authority which has been conferred upon us, we do command you, and in virtue of your obedience enjoin, that you seize and take into your own hands, and retain possession of, the archdeaconry and all the revenues of John, archdeacon of Oxford, until such time as you shall have received commands from the Apostolic See, or from ourselves ; inasmuch as with his uncle, the Pilate of Bouen, he is disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the kingdom of England, and is seeking to do whatever mischief he possibly can to our lord the king and to his realm, as being an enemy of the realm and to ourselves. For, by the authority of our lord the pope, we have placed him under the ban of excommunication. Farewell."
The said bishop of Ely also wrote to a similar effect to some others of the bishops of England ; though not one of them performed the commands of either the Apostolic See or of himself; as they did not consider him as legate, or as the king's chancellor. But the said archbishop of Bouen, and the other justices of England, deprived him of his bishopric, and collected his revenues for the behoof of the king, in return for the king's treasures which he had made away with.
After this, the said justices and all the bishops, earls, and

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